Testing an association between lower body flexibility and running economy on a level, uphill and downhill grade

Author

Daniel J. Keefer

Date of Award

8-1995

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Human Performance and Sport Studies

Major Professor

David R. Bassett Jr.

Committee Members

Edward T. Howley

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine whether a relationship exists between selected lower body flexibility measurements and running economy (RE) in nine well trained runners and triathletes on a level (0% at 207 m•min^-1), uphill (+7% at 154 m•min^-1) and downhill (-7% at 295 m•min^-1) grade. Each subject underwent a 60-min treadmill accommodation period, VO_2max test, two RE trials on each grade (repeated measures), and lower body flexibility tests. The range of motion (ROM) tests used were standing external hip rotation- hip flexed 90°, supine passive straight leg raise, supine active knee extension- hip flexed 90°, seated dorsiflexion- knee flexed 90°, seated dorsiflexion- hip extended, and seated plantar flexion- knee flexed 90°. The results show several ROM measurements significantly correlated (p< 0.05) with running economy. These include oxygen uptake on a level grade with dorsiflexion- knee flexed (r= .6681); a level grade with plantar flexion (r= .6108); a downhill grade with dorsiflexion- knee flexed (r= .5886); a downhill grade with plantar flexion (r= .5485); and an uphill grade with external hip rotation (r= -.5823). The results of this study show that a significant relationship does exist between submaximal oxygen uptake (running economy) and selected lower body flexibility measurements.

Recommended Citation

Keefer, Daniel J., "Testing an association between lower body flexibility and running economy on a level, uphill and downhill grade. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1995.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/11163